Couch.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

Non

S. B. GONDON.

COUCH.

APPLIUATION FILED DEO.9,1'907.

INVENTOR Ja /mad c 0 724070 MATTO EY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL E. OONDON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COUCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. CoNDoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Couches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is an improved couch.

The object is to permit that portion of the couch upon which the hips of the user in recumbent position rest, to be conveniently elevated above the portion normally receiving the lower limbs. A couch thus con structed is of especial utility for medical or surgical purposes, and for invalids generally. It also enables the user while lying on his back to read in comfort, since the disposition of the body with the knees drawn up and the feet below the level of the hips allows him to hold a book in proper position before the eyes, and without awkward placing of the arms.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a section of my improved couch on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a bottom view in plan, part of the spring-supporting cross bar eing broken away. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the latch, its shaft and operating lever. Fig. 5 is an end view of said lever and shaft.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A is the rectangular supporting frame of the couch.

B is a removable platform section formed of a frame 0, which enters the frame A and is supported on longitudinal bars D secured inside the longitudinal members of frame A. The upper side of the section is upholstered in the usual way.

E is a platform section formed of side members F and G and cross bars H, I, J, eX- tending transversely between said members. The bars II I are suitably arranged to form a support for the end portion K of the section E which forms a head and back rest for the user reclining thereon. The upper side of section E is also upholstered to correspond to section B, and the ends of the two sections preferably closely abut, as shown in Fig. 1.

The side members F, G, of section E are hinged or pivoted to the side members of frame A. As here shown this connection may consist of lugs L secured to frame A and pivots M, secured to the said side members Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1907.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Serial No. 405,638.

F, G, and entering apertines in said lugs. The hinge or pivot may be placed at about the middle of section platform E, or at the end thereof at which the head rest is formed, or at any intermediate point, as desired. As here arranged the head and shoulders of the user are lowered as the hips are raised.

Extending across the frame A is a bar N, upon which bear two helical springs O, which springs also abut upon the cross bar J of section E and normally tend to raise said cross bar J and so tilt the section E into inclined position, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 1.

When the section E is in the position'shown in full lines, Fig. 1, with the upper surface coinciding with that of section B, said springs are compressed.

Extending across the frame A and journaled in openings in its side members is a shaft P having a squared portion outside of said frame and a threaded portion at its extremities. Fast upon said shaft are two latch arms Q, each having at one edge a number of notches adapted to engage lined pins It on the side members F, G, of section E. Leaf springs S secured on bar N bear against the opposite edges of said arms Q,

and tend to hold said arms in engagement with pins R. A hand lever T having a squared opening may be placed upon the squared portion of shaft P on either side of the couch, and when so placed may be socured by a nut U applied to the threaded extremity of the shaft.

The operation is as follows The sections B and E are normally in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the springs O being compressed and the section E being held down against the resiliency of the springs by the engagement of the lower notches in arms Q with the pins It. I/Vhen it is desired to elevate the abutting end of section E, the shaft P is turned by means of the lever T, so as to draw back the latch arms Q against the ac tion of their leaf springs S, thus releasing the pins R and permitting the springs O to raise said end and tilt the section into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. In case it is desired not to elevate the end of the section so much, any one of the upper notches in arms Q may be caused to engage with the pins It, which is done by pushing down on the elevated end of the section until the pins- R come opposite the proper notch when the hand lever is released permitting the leaf springs S to throw said notch into engage For'medical purposes foot rests V may be secured if desired on opposite sides of frame A, and the section B being removable permits the physician or surgeon to place himself inside said frame A while examining or operating upon the patient.

I claim:

The combination of a frame, two platform sections thereon with their ends abutting, a hinge connection between one of said sections and said frame, a shaft extending 15 across said frame, a notched latch arm on said shaft, a stop pin on said hinged section, a spring bearing on said latch arm to hold the same in engagement with said pin, and means on the exterior of said frame for ro- 20 tating said shaft to operate said latch arm. In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL E. CONDON.

Witnesses:

GERTRUDE T. PORTER, PARK BENJAMIN, Jr. 

